Very interesting Steve, I’ve seen and published about (including in the yet to come out CBN issue) lighter and darker Koel fledglings. They certainly seem to get darker over time, but I have never seen one anywhere near as dark as yours.
HANZAB mentions the rather varied appearance of juveniles over their first 2 months, and also has a description and a painting of a first basic immature male which is quite similar to the one you have videoed. Perhaps another sign of the species increasing
presence in Canberra during spring/summer.
Regards
Jack Holland
Sent: Friday, January 5, 2018 7:34 PM
Subject: Immature male koel
Koels have been very active around my place in Fraser since they arrived back this year but so far I have not recorded any juveniles nearby (closest I know of is near Spence shops). Today an immature male appeared in my yard. This is the
first time I have seen a bird in this plumage in Canberra. It is possible it is not a bird which has been raised locally. A frame from my video is attached.
Steve
